Macclesfield Town F.C.

Macclesfield Town F.C. was a professional association football club based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, that played in the English Football League from 1997 to 2012 and again from 2018 to 2020. The club was nicknamed The Silkmen due to Macclesfield's history of silk production, with the town being a major center for the silk industry in the 18th century. The team played their home games at Moss Rose, which was also the home stadium of the Macclesfield Rugby Club. The club had a rivalry with nearby teams such as Stockport County F.C., Crewe Alexandra F.C., and Port Vale F.C..

● History

The club was founded in 1874 and was initially an amateur team, playing friendly matches against other local teams such as Congleton Town F.C. and Winsford United F.C.. In the early 20th century, the team began to compete in regional competitions, including the Cheshire County League and the Manchester League. The club gained Football League status in 1997, after winning the Conference National title, and played in the Third Division alongside teams such as Rochdale A.F.C., Darlington F.C., and Hartlepool United F.C.. During their time in the Football League, the club had notable matches against teams such as Manchester City F.C., Stoke City F.C., and Bolton Wanderers F.C.. The club also participated in FA Cup competitions, facing teams like Chelsea F.C., Arsenal F.C., and Liverpool F.C..

● Stadium

The club's home stadium was Moss Rose, which had a capacity of 6,335 spectators and was also used by the Macclesfield Rugby Club. The stadium was located in the Macclesfield area and was within walking distance of the town center, near the Macclesfield Canal and the River Bollin. The stadium had a mix of seated and standing areas, with the main stand being named after former club chairman, Alan Cash. The stadium also hosted other events, including rugby league matches and concerts, featuring performers such as Elton John and Rod Stewart. Nearby stadiums include Edgeley Park, home of Stockport County F.C., and Gresty Road, home of Crewe Alexandra F.C..

● Honours

The club won several honors during their time in the English Football League, including the Conference National title in 1997, which earned them promotion to the Third Division. The club also won the Cheshire Senior Cup on several occasions, defeating teams such as Witton Albion F.C. and Nantwich Town F.C.. In addition, the club reached the final of the FA Trophy in 2017, where they lost to York City F.C. at Wembley Stadium. The club's most notable achievement was reaching the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 2000, where they were defeated by Chelsea F.C. at Stamford Bridge.

● Records

The club's record appearance holder is Danny Whitaker, who played over 400 games for the team between 2001 and 2013. The club's record goal scorer is John Askey, who scored over 100 goals for the team between 1984 and 1995. The club's highest attendance at Moss Rose was over 6,000 spectators, which was achieved during a match against Stockport County F.C. in 2011. The club also holds the record for the most consecutive away wins in the Conference National, with 7 wins in a row in the 2017-2018 season, including victories against teams such as Aldershot Town F.C. and Bromley F.C..

● Players

The club had several notable players throughout their history, including Steve Burr, who played for the team between 1985 and 1991 and later managed the team from 2011 to 2014. Other notable players include John Askey, who played for the team between 1984 and 1995 and later managed the team from 2013 to 2018, and Danny Whitaker, who played for the team between 2001 and 2013. The club also had players who went on to play for other teams in the English Football League, such as Ryan Lowe, who played for Bury F.C. and Crewe Alexandra F.C., and Ben Garratt, who played for Crewe Alexandra F.C..

● Management

The club had several managers throughout their history, including Sammy McIlroy, who managed the team from 1993 to 2000 and led the team to the Conference National title in 1997. Other notable managers include Brian Horton, who managed the team from 2004 to 2006, and John Askey, who managed the team from 2013 to 2018 and led the team to promotion to the English Football League in 2018. The club's last manager was Mark Kennedy, who took over the team in 2019 but was unable to prevent the team's relegation to the National League in 2020, after which the club was dissolved due to financial difficulties, with debts owed to HM Revenue & Customs and other creditors. Category:Defunct football clubs in England